Select Objects

Click single objects

Click an object to select it.

Click away from the objects to deselect.

Objects by a window rectangle

When you make a window selection, objects completely enclosed in the selection rectangle are selected.

Drag a selection rectangle from left to right to use a window selection.

Objects by a crossing rectangle

When you make a crossing selection, all objects inside or partially inside the selection rectangle are selected.

Drag a selection rectangle from right to left to do a crossing selection.

To make the mouse always use either a window or crossing selection, see Options, Mouse group select
.

Add and remove from selection

To add to selection

Press and hold Shift

while clicking single objects or using a window or crossing.

To remove from selection

Press and hold the Ctrl

key while clicking single objects or using a window or crossing.

Selection menu

If several objects appear to be stacked in the area of the cursor and Rhino is not able to tell which one you want to select, the Selection Menu appears.

When the selection menu pops up, the current object and its designation in the list highlight.

To select an object

  1. Click the left mouse button

    at the original pick point to cycle through the list.

  2. Click the right mouse button

    to accept the current choice.

Or

  1. Click the object name in the list.

  2. When object is highlighted, and the mouse is still over the selection menu, click the left mouse button

    .

To cancel the selection process

  • Click None.

  • Click away from the objects.

  • Click another object.

Select commands

Dedicated selection commands let you select by object properties.

All Objects

Select

Select objects.

SelAll

Select all objects.

Rhinoceros selall Select objects

Standard > Select All

Select > Select All

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > All Objects

Rhinoceros key 008 Select objects

Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl

+ A

SelBadObjects

Select all objects that do not pass Check
.

Note: Delete or rebuild the object.

Rhinoceros selbadobjects Select objects

Analyze > Select Bad Objects

Geometry Fix > Select Bad Objects (Right click)

Geometry Fix > Select Bad Objects

Diagnostics > Select Bad Objects

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Analyze > Diagnostics > Select Bad Objects

SelShortCrv

Select all curves less than a specified length.

Rhinoceros SelShortCrv Select objects

Sel Curves > Select Short Curves

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelChain

Selects curve or surface edges that touch end-to-end.

Rhinoceros SelChain Select objects

Select > SelChain

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Options

AutoChain

Selecting a curve or surface edge automatically selects all curve segments connected with the level of continuity
set by the ChainContinuity option.

ChainContinuity

Controls the level of continuity
required between segments to be selected with the AutoChain option.

Position

Tangency

Curvature

Undo

Undo last segment selection.

Next

Select next segment.

All

Select all segments.

SelNone

Deselect all objects. Note: SelNone does not run inside a command to clear pre-selected objects.

Rhinoceros selnone Select objects

Select > Select None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > None

Rhinoceros key 008 Select objects

Keyboard Shortcut: Esc

Invert

Deselects all selected objects and selects all visible objects that were not previously selected.

Rhinoceros invert Select objects

Select > Invert Selection

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Invert

InvertPt

Deselects all selected control or edit points and selects all visible control or edit points that were not previously selected.

Rhinoceros InvertPt Select objects

Select Points > Invert Point Selection

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Invert

Control Points

AddNextU

Adds the control point in the positive u-direction to the selection.

Rhinoceros addnextu Select objects

Select Points > Add Next U

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Add Next U

AddNextV

Adds the control point in the positive v-direction to the selection.

Rhinoceros addnextv Select objects

Select Points > Add Next V

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Add Next V

AddPrevU

Adds the control point in the negative u-direction to the selection.

Rhinoceros AddPrevU Select objects

Select Points > Add Previous U (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Add Previous U

AddPrevV

Adds the control point in the negative v-direction to the selection.

Rhinoceros AddPrevV Select objects

Select Points > Add Previous V (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Add Previous V

NextU

Selects the control point in the positive u-direction.

Rhinoceros nextu Select objects

Select Points > Next U

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Next U

NextV

Selects the control point in the positive v-direction.

Rhinoceros nextv Select objects

Select Points > Next V

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Next V

PrevU

Selects the control point in the negative u-direction.

Rhinoceros PrevU Select objects

Select Points > Previous U (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Previous U

PrevV

Selects the control point in the negative v-direction.

Rhinoceros PrevV Select objects

Select Points > Previous V (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Previous V

SelConnected

Selects adjacent control points.

Rhinoceros selconnected Select objects

Select Points > Select Connected Points

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Connected

SelU

Selects all control points in the u-direction.

Rhinoceros selu Select objects

Select Points > Select U

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Select U

SelUV

Selects all control po
ints in the u- and v- directions.

Rhinoceros seluv Select objects

Select Points > Select UV

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Select UV

SelV

Select all control points in the v-direction.

Rhinoceros selv Select objects

Select Points > Select V

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Select V

Blocks

SelBlockInstance

Select all block instances.

Rhinoceros selblockinstance Select objects

Select > Select All Block Instances

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Block Instances

SelBlockInstanceNamed

Select all block instances of a specified name.

Rhinoceros SelBlockInstanceNamed Select objects

Select > Select Blocks by name (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > By Block Name

Closed Objects

SelClosedCrv

Select all closed curves.

Rhinoceros SelClosedCrv Select objects

Sel Curves > Select Closed Curves

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelClosedMesh

Select all closed mesh objects.

Rhinoceros SelClosedMesh Select objects

Sel Meshes > Select Closed Meshes

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelClosedPolysrf

Select all closed polysurfaces.

Rhinoceros SelClosedPolysrf Select objects

Sel Polysrf > Select Closed Polysurfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelClosedSrf

Select all closed surfaces.

Rhinoceros SelClosedSrf Select objects

Sel Srf > Select Closed Surfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Open Objects

SelOpenCrv

Select all open curves.

Rhinoceros SelOpenCrv Select objects

Sel Curves > Select Open Curves

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelOpenMesh

Select all open mesh objects.

Rhinoceros SelOpenMesh Select objects

Sel Meshes > Select Open Meshes

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelOpenPolysrf

Select all open polysurfaces.

Rhinoceros SelOpenPolySrf Select objects

Edge Tools > Select Open Polysurfaces

Sel Polysrf > Select Open Polysurfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelOpenSrf

Select all open surfaces.

Rhinoceros SelOpenSrf Select objects

Sel Srf > Select Open Surfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Properties

SelColor

Select all objects of a specified color.

Rhinoceros selcolor Select objects

Select > Select by Color

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > By Color

SelID

Select objects by object ID number.

Rhinoceros selid Select objects

Select > Select by ID

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelMaterialName

Select objects with the same render material name.

Rhinoceros  ABlankButton Select objects

None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelName

Select object by name.

Rhinoceros selname Select objects

Select > Select by Object Name

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > By Object Name

Note

  • Use wild cards (*, ?, etc.) to select multiple objects.

  • Press Enter

    to select all objects with no name.

  • Objects on hidden or locked layers cannot be selected.

Enclosure

SelBox

Select by surrounding objects with a 3-dimensional box. Draw the selection box using the same options as the Box
command.

Rhinoceros  ABlankButton Select objects

None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelCrossing

Select with a crossing window
.

Rhinoceros  ABlankButton Select objects

None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelWindow

Select with an enclosing window
.

Rhinoceros  ABlankButton Select objects

None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Lasso

Selects point objects, control points, and edit points by sketching an irregular shape around them.

Rhinoceros lasso Select objects

Select > Lasso Points

Select Points > Lasso Points

Organic > Lasso Points

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Control Points > Select Control Points > Lasso

Steps:

  1. Use the PointsOn
    command to show control points.

  2. Start the Lasso command.

  3. Click and drag, or repeatedly click to select points.

  4. Press Enter

    to close the lasso.

SelVisible

Select all surfaces or meshes that are in front of other objects in the active viewport with a crossing selection.

Rhinoceros  ABlankButton Select objects

None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Steps:

  • Drag a crossing selection or press Enter

    to use the whole viewport.

  • In the illustration, using SelVisible in the Top viewport selects the green spheres and the plane.

Object Type

SelCrv

Select all curves.

Rhinoceros selcrv Select objects

Select > Select Curves

Sel Curves > Select Curves

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Curves

SelDim

Select all dimensions.

Rhinoceros seldim Select objects

Select > Select Dimensions and Text Blocks

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Dimensions

SelDot

Select all annotation dots.

Rhinoceros SelDot Select objects

Select > Select Dots

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelLeader

Select all leaders.

Rhinoceros  ABlankButton Select objects

None

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelLight

Select all lights.

Rhinoceros sellight Select objects

Select > Select Lights

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Lights

SelMesh

Select all mesh objects.

Rhinoceros selmesh Select objects

Select > Select Meshes

Sel Meshes > Select Meshes

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Polygon Meshes

SelPt

Select all point objects.

Rhinoceros selpt Select objects

Select > Select Points

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Points

SelPtCloud

Select all point cloud objects.

Rhinoceros SelPtCloud Select objects

Select > Select Point Clouds

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelPolyline

Select all polylines. Note: Single-segment “lines” and any curve or compound curve where the components are linear are selected.

Rhinoceros selpolyline Select objects

Sel Curves > Select Polylines

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Polylines

SelPolysrf

Select all polysurfaces.

Rhinoceros selpolysrf Select objects

Select > Select Polysurfaces

Sel Polysrf > Select Polysurfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Polysurfaces

SelSrf

Select all surfaces.

Rhinoceros selsrf Select objects

Select > Select Surfaces

Sel Srf > Select Surfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Surfaces

SelText

Select all text.

Rhinoceros SelText Select objects

Select > Select Text Blocks (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelTrimmedSrf

Select all trimmed surfaces.

Rhinoceros SelTrimmedSrf Select objects

Sel Srf > Select Trimmed Surfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelUntrimmedSrf

Select all untrimmed surfaces.

Rhinoceros SelUntrimmedSrf Select objects

Sel Srf > Select Untrimmed Surfaces

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Duplicates

SelDup

Selects objects that are geometrically identical with another object and visible, regardless of other object properties.

Rhinoceros seldup Select objects

Select > Select Duplicate Objects

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Duplicate Objects

SelDupAll

Selects all visible objects that are geometrically identical, including the original.

Since this command selects both the copies and the originals, it lets you find objects that have been changed by comparing a before and after version of the model.

Compare to the SelDup
command, which selects all visible objects that are geometrically identical, excluding the original.

Rhinoceros SelDupAll Select objects

Select > Select All Duplicate Objects (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Layers and Groups

SelGroup

Select a group by name

Rhinoceros selgroup Select objects

Select > Select by Group Name

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > By Group Name

SelLayer

Select all objects on a layer. Use the Pick button in the dialog box to select an object on the layer.

Rhinoceros sellayer Select objects

Select > Select by Layer

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > By Layer

SelLayerNumber

Select objects by layer number. The number of the first layer is zero. Each layer has a number that is assigned to it for a Rhino editing session. The numbers may change when the model is closed and then reopened. This number has nothing to do with the order the layers appear in the layer dialog box. Deleted layers keep their number.

Rhinoceros SelLayerNumber Select objects

Select > Select layer by number (Right click)

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Mesh

SelNakedMeshEdgePt

Select unwelded vertices on polygon mesh edges.

Note

  • Polygon mesh vertices are not completely surrounded by faces are displayed.

  • Joined meshes, such as those made by the MeshBox
    command, have naked mesh edge points where the sub-meshes are joined.

  • To eliminate naked mesh edge points, match them in pairs, and then use the Weld command to make a single mesh that cannot be exploded. Edges that formerly rendered sharp will shade rounded, unless you use the FlatShade
    command.

Rhinoceros selnakedmeshedgept Select objects

STL Tools > Show and Select Naked Mesh Edge Points

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

Cage

SelCaptives

Selects captive objects set up using the CageEdit
command.

Rhinoceros SelCaptives Select objects

Cage > Select captives

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelControls

Selects control objects set up using the CageEdit
command.

Rhinoceros SelControls Select objects

Cage > Select controls

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

History

SelChildren

Selects child objects of the currently selected objects.

Rhinoceros selchildren Select objects

History > Select children

Select History > Select children

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelObjectsWithHistory

Selects objects that have history.

Rhinoceros SelObjectsWithHistory Select objects

Select > Select objects with history

History > Select objects with history

Select History > Select objects with history

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

SelParents

Selects parent objects of the currently selected objects.

Rhinoceros selparents Select objects

History > Select parents

Select History > Select parents

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

None

 

Action Order

SelLast

Selects the last changed objects.

Rhinoceros sellast Select objects

Select > Select Last Created Objects

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Last Created Objects

-SelLast

The hyphenated version adds command line options.

DeselectOthersBeforeSelect=<Yes/No>

SelPrev

Re-selects the previous selection set.

Rhinoceros selprev Select objects

Select > Select Previous Selection

Rhinoceros Menu2 Select objects

Edit > Select Objects > Previous Selection

-SelPrev

The hyphenated version adds command line options.

DeselectOthersBeforeSelect=<Yes/No>

Select sub-parts of objects

For many commands, you can select sub parts of objects, such as surfaces that make up polysurfaces, edge curves of surface, or control points. You can also restrict selection to object types such as meshes, dimensions, surfaces or curves to allow you to restrict selection in a tight area.

These selection filters only work for commands that ask you to pick objects after the command starts such as ClosestPt
, ExtrudeCrv…
, Sweep1
, Sweep2
. These commands let you use filters to pick a sub-part of an object rather than the whole object.

To select a sub-part of an object as input to a command

To select

type

curves

curve or crv

dimensions

dimension or dim

edges

edge

meshes

mesh

points

point or pt

polysurfaces

polysurface or polysrf

surfaces

surface or srf

Ctrl + Shift + Left mouse click select

Ctrl

+ Shift

+ Left mouse

click to select polysurface/surface faces, edges, boundaries, and objects within groups.

Select objects